I know many people feel that booking in for a massage is an indulgence. They wait for a gift voucher from a loved one, or save up once a year for their birthday.

Many benefits of massage are still disconcertingly uncertain but while everyone is discussing those, a somewhat proven benefit is its positive effects on mood (1).

Massage has been shown to:

1. reduce depression

2. reduce anxiety

ANXIETY AND PAIN

How often have you noticed your neck pain is at it's worst when you're under a lot of stress? It will build up and up until you finally lean over to pick up your toothbrush and 'bam' you can't move your neck.

Anxiety is a potent factor in all types of pain. And in the case of lower grade anxiety and depression, the kind we all seem to be living with every day, massage can make a valuable contribution to your well being.

MASSAGE TO INTERRUPT THE CYCLE OF PAIN AND IT'S EFFECT ON MOOD

Although the neurophysiological effects are complex, the simple negative cycle that emerges when people are depressed or anxious, is that it's hard for them to do anything when they feel miserable. As you continue to feel miserable, this leads to doing less, which in turn, leads to feeling worse.

There is a boatload of evidence to support enjoyable movement and exercise to improve mood but how about not getting to the point of feeling miserable or trying to find someone to help you crawl out of that hole?

Most massage therapists are pretty nurturing types of humans. They can provide a therapeutic support role through 'recovery' and encourage paced activity to incorporate self-management.

IS MORE MASSAGE BETTER?

A leading researcher in this field is Christopher Moyer PhD who is a behavioural scientist primarily interested in the role of massage therapy on anxiety and depression or the human affect.

I'll let him speak about the research he has accumulated on the subject about whether more massage is better:

"We made an interesting discovery concerning the effect of the treatment on the state of anxiety. When a series of massage therapy sessions was administered, the first session in the series provided significant reductions in anxiety, but the last session in the same series provided reductions that were almost twice as large. This pattern was consistent across every study we were able to examine, which strongly suggests that experience with massage therapy is an important predictor of its success, at least where anxiety is concerned. To put it another way, it is possible that the greatest benefits come about only when a person has learned how to receive massage therapy." (2)

SO STOP FEELING GUILTY

You can all stop feeling guilty. If you enjoy getting a massage then book one now and do something good for your mental health. Give yourself a pat on the back for being proactive about your wellbeing. Well done you!